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[bishoptl]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/05/gay.donor.ap/index.html

Is this even legal?

NEW YORK (AP) -- To the dismay of gay-rights activists, the Food and Drug Administration is about to implement new rules recommending that any man who has engaged in homosexual sex in the previous five years be barred from serving as an anonymous sperm donor.

The FDA has rejected calls to scrap the provision, insisting that gay men collectively pose a higher-than-average risk of carrying the AIDS virus. Critics accuse the FDA of stigmatizing all gay men rather than adopting a screening process that focuses on high-risk sexual behavior by any would-be donor, gay or straight.

"Under these rules, a heterosexual man who had unprotected sex with HIV-positive prostitutes would be OK as a donor one year later, but a gay man in a monogamous, safe-sex relationship is not OK unless he's been celibate for five years," said Leland Traiman, director of a clinic in Alameda, California, that seeks gay sperm donors.

The practical effect of the provision -- part of a broader set of cell and tissue donation regulations that take effect May 25 -- is hard to gauge. It is likely to affect some lesbian couples who want a child and prefer to use a gay man's sperm for artificial insemination.

But it is the provision's symbolic aspect that particularly troubles gay-rights groups. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal, has called it "policy based on bigotry."

"The part I find most offensive -- and a little frightening -- is that it isn't based on good science," Cathcart said. "There's a steadily increasing trend of heterosexual transmission of HIV, and yet the FDA still has this notion that you protect people by putting gay men out of the pool."

In a letter to the FDA, Lambda Legal has suggested a screening procedure based on sexual behavior, not sexual orientation. Prospective donors -- gay or straight -- would be rejected if they had engaged in unprotected sex in the previous 12 months with an HIV-positive person, an illegal drug user, or "an individual of unknown HIV status outside of a monogamous relationship."

But an FDA spokeswoman cited FDA documents suggesting that officials felt the broader exclusion was prudent even if it affected gay men who practice safe sex.

"The FDA is very much aware that strict exclusion policies eliminate some safe donors," said one document.

 

[IJoel]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/05/gay.donor.ap/index.html

Is this even legal?

It is in JESUSLAND.

Any space left in your basement Bish?

 

[B'z-chan]

We dig to republic of china. Who's with me?

not that i hate my country, or the things that happen in it. But damn now gay guys cant make a living selling they're good looks.

 

[Blackie]

Am I missing something here, or can't you just lie and donate your sperm regardless of whether or not you did your gay thing recently? Cause how would they know?

 

[teh_pwn]

Am I missing something here, or can't you just lie and donate your sperm regardless of whether or not you did your gay thing recently? Cause how would they know?

Well in Texas they can search your home and stuff to make sure you're straight when you want to adopt children...so...

 

[bishoptl]

Cause how would they know?

Check your tip for signs of a fresh chocolate-socketing? I dunno. Seems a bit dumb to prevent healthy sperm donors from helping out, though.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

Isn't 47% of AIDS cases in America homosexual men? This is just smart planning. I'm sure if white, male, Christians would be denied sperm, people would bust a nut at how good of news that was. Another big chunk is sharing needles.

 

[automagnus]

NEW YORK (AP) -- To the dismay of gay-rights activists, the Food and Drug Administration is about to implement new rules recommending that any man who has engaged in homosexual sex in the previous five years be barred from serving as an anonymous sperm donor.

It's not barring them from donating.

 

[whytemyke]

I wonder what the ratio is on hetersexual lunatic patricidal maniacs donating sperm versus gay lunatic patricidal maniacs.

it'd be sad.... i could walk into a sperm clinic with a record as long as my arm, diabetic, schizophrenic, fat, bad heart, with alzheimers and stumbling around drunk and the only thing they'd say to me is: "You're not gay are you?"

 

[pnjtony]

I heard that african american women are the largest group infected with AIDS...maybe that was world-wide though.

 

[Archaix]

Hey, here's a question I don't really want answered.

Why is the Food and Drug Administration governing sperm use?

 

[videogamer]

NEW YORK (AP) -- To the dismay of gay-rights activists, the Food and Drug Administration is about to implement new rules recommending that any man who has engaged in homosexual sex in the previous five years be barred from serving as an anonymous sperm donor.

It's not barring them from donating.

Don't underestimate unwritten powers or influence:

Although there is disagreement over whether the FDA guideline regarding gay men will have the force of law, most doctors and clinics are expected to observe it.

In addition, the FDA is often used as an authoritative source, and this can send an unfair signal.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/05/health/main693297.shtml

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

Hey, here's a question I don't really want answered.

Why is the Food and Drug Administration governing sperm use?

Because the FDA sucks ass.

 

[teh_pwn]

Isn't 47% of AIDS cases in America homosexual men? This is just smart planning. I'm sure if white, male, Christians would be denied sperm, people would bust a nut at how good of news that was. Another big chunk is sharing needles.

That's a terrible reason to. Why not test for ya, know....AIDS..the issue? What the fuck does their being gay have to do with it if they are clean?

The only thing I can see is discrimination. By banning them, they are infering that homosexuality is genetic and they want to stop it.


Oh, and yes, the poor white christian being discriminated against. :lol

They only got partial victories on posting their propaganda on government property and their "morals" into law. Damn, their rights are being trampled because they're not allowed to control all people's lives regardless of their beliefs! (I realize that most christians are not like this).

Because the FDA sucks ass.

I agree...while the FDA puts a blind eye to all the genetic engineering and the disgusting amounts of carcinogens sprayed on crops, they're out regulating sperm banks....um, what?

 

[Loki]

Why don't they just screen the "donations" and allow whoever wants to donate to do so? Personally, I'm shocked that they (apparently?) don't do so already, though perhaps it would be prohibitively expensive. Weird.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

I agree...while the FDA puts a blind eye to all the genetic engineering and the disgusting amounts of carcinogens sprayed on crops, they're out regulating sperm banks....um, what?

Well, my main reason was because they do whatever they want with nobody really standing in their way. That is a good point as well. That and its basically a mouthpiece for pharmaceutical corporations.

BAN VITAMIN E BUT LETS WAIT AND SEE HOW VIOXX TURNS OUT

 

[drohne]

i think it's kinda gay that jizz falls under the food and drug association's purview!

but seriously -- this is stupid and discriminatory. i bet there's a bush administration apointee under this decision somewhere.

 

[videogamer]

Isn't 47% of AIDS cases in America homosexual men? This is just smart planning. I'm sure if white, male, Christians would be denied sperm, people would bust a nut at how good of news that was. Another big chunk is sharing needles.

Of course, you could also ban blood donors from certain African countries or whatever groups have high AIDS cases. Or this is just another case of profileing... hey! there is a black male.. let's not let him into our liquor store.. he might rob us.

Also, provide an argument for why people would be "bust[ing] a nut" over white male Christians being denied the ability to donate sperm. Note that many posters here joke about these things.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I heard that african american women are the largest group infected with AIDS...maybe that was world-wide though.

It's true all the way around, a lot of black men are bi-sexaual and don't practice safe sex. The fuck it up for all the straight black guys who just want a piece of good nookie.

 

[ronito]

I didn't know there was a plethora of gay men waiting to donate their sperm. There must be for this kind of ruling.

 

[fse]

This isn't a good thing. Someone perfectly healthy can donate sperm... but if he is gay.. oops you can't.